RsbV-1 from staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT

RsbV-1 polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such RsbV-1 and a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such RsbV-1 for the treatment of infection, particularly bacterial infections. Antagonists against such RsbV-1 and their use as a therapeutic to treat infections, particularly bacterial infections are also disclosed. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting diseases related to the presence of RsbV-1 nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides in a host. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting polynucleotides encoding SigB operon and for detecting the polypeptide in a host.

This application is a divisional of U.S. Application Ser. No.08/938,716, filed Sep. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,160, whichclaims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application 60/029,121, filed Oct.24, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in part, to newly identified polynucleotides andpolypeptides; variants and derivatives of these polynucleotides andpolypeptides; processes for making these polynucleotides and thesepolypeptides, and their variants and derivatives; agonists andantagonists of the polypeptides; and uses of these polynucleotides,polypeptides, variants, derivatives, agonists and antagonists. Inparticular, in these and in other regards, the invention relates topolynucleotides and polypeptides of SigB operon, hereinafter referred toas “RsbV-1”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Regulation of gene expression in bacteria occurs frequently at the levelof transcription. RNA polymerases which transcribe these genes arecomposed of a multi-subunit core enzyne and an additional protein, orsigma factor, which permits the whole enzyme to recognine promoterelements and initiate transcription at these specific sites. Cellscontain multiple sigma factors and their relative levels in the cellprovide a fundamental control of gene expression.

Bacillus subtilis has at least 10 different sigma factors. Haldenwang,W. G. (1995) The sigma factors of Bacillus subtilis. MicrobiologicalReviews 59, 1-30. Sigma-B is activated to direct the transcription of asubset of genes when B. subtilis stops exponential growth or issubjected to a number of environmental stresses (e.g., heat, salt,ethanol and peroxide). Boylan, S. A., Redfield, A. R. & Price, C. W.(1993) Transcription factor sigma B of Bacillus subtilis controls alarge stationary-phase regulon. Journal of Bacteriology 175, 3957-63;Boylan, S. A., Redfield, A. R., Brody, M. S. & Price C. W. (1993)Stress-induced activation of the sigma B transcription factor ofBacillus subtilis. Journal of Bacteriology 175, 7931-7.

Staphylococcus aureus, is a pathogen related to Bacillus species. In thehost, S. aureus cells are exposed to a range of environmental stresses,some analogous to those mentioned above. Furthermore, bacterialpopulations in infection loci are likely to contain slow or non-growingbacteria. Thus an equivalent of sigma-B is likely to play a crucial rolein the adaptation of S. aureus to the host environment.

At least four proteins are known to regulate sigma-B. Three (RsbV, RsbWand RsbX) are the products of genes which are co-transcribed with thestructural gene for sigma-B (sigB). The fourth (RsbU) lies immediatelyupstream of the RsbV gene. RsbW binds to sigma-B, blockingsigma-B-dependent transcription. RsbV can form a complex with RsbW andreduce the sequestration of sigma-B by RsbW. Additionally RsbW is ableto phosphorylate RsbV to a form which is unable to interact with RsbW.Dufour, A. & Haldenwang, W. G. (1995) Interactions between a Bacillussubtilis anti-sigma factor (RsbW) and its antagonist (RsbV) Journal ofBacteriology 176, 1813-20. RsbU, directly or indirectly, facilitates theRsbV-dependent release of sigma-B from RsbW. Voelker, U., Dufour, A. &Haldenwang, W. G. (1995) The Bacillus subtilis rsbU gene product isnecessary for RsbX-dependent regulation of sigma B. Journal ofBacteriology 177, 114-22.

Clearly, there is a need for factors that may be used to screencompounds for antibiotic activity and which may also be used todetermine their roles in pathogenesis of infection, dysfunction anddisease. There is a need, therefore, for identification andcharacterization of such factors which can play a role in preventing,ameliorating or correcting infections, dysfunctions or diseases.

The polypeptide of the present invention has amino acid sequencehomology to known regulator of a sigma factor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Toward these ends, and others, it is an object of the present inventionto provide polypeptides, inter alia, that have been identified as novelRsbV-1 peptides by homology between the amino acid sequence set out inFIG. 2 and known amino acid sequences of other proteins such as Bacillussubtillis RsbV.

It is a further object of the invention, moreover, to providepolynucleotides that encode RsbV-1 polypeptides, particularlypolynucleotides that encode the polypeptide herein designated RsbV-1.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention,the polynucleotide comprises the region encoding RsbV-1 polypeptides inthe sequence set out in FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1], or a fragment, analogue orderivative thereof

In another particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention,there is a novel sigma factor protein from Staphylococcus aureuscomprising the amino acid sequence of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2], or afragment, analogue or derivative thereof.

In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mature polypeptideexpressible by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strain,Staphylococcus aureus WCUH 29 contained in NCIMB Deposit No. 40771.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, there are providedisolated nucleic acid molecules encoding RsbV-1, particularlyStaphylococcus RsbV-1, including mRNAs, cDNAs, genomic DNAs and, infurther embodiments of this aspect of the invention includebiologically, diagnostically, prophylactically, clinically ortherapeutically useful variants, analogs or derivatives thereof, orfragments thereof, including fragments of the variants, analogs andderivatives, and compostions compnising same.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided the use of a polynucleotide of the invention for therapeutic orprophylactic purposes, in particular genetic immunization.

Among the particularly preferred embodiments of this aspect of theinvention are naturally occurring allelic variants of RsbV-1 andpolypeptides encoded thereby.

In accordance with this aspect of the invention, there are providednovel polypeptides of Staphylococcus referred to herein as RsbV-1 aswell as biologically, diagnostically, prophylactically, clinically ortherapeutically useful fragments, variants and derivatives thereof,variants and derivatives of the fragments, and analogs of the foregoing,and compostions comprising same.

Among the particularly preferred embodiments of this aspect of theinvention are variants of RsbV-1 polypeptide encoded by naturallyoccurring alleles of the RsbV-1 gene.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, there areprovided methods for producing the aforementioned RsbV-1 polypeptides.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, thereare provided inhibitors to such polypeptides, useful as antibacterialagents, including, for example, antibodies.

In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of this aspect of theinvention, there are provided products, compositions and methods, interalia: assessing RsbV-1 expression; to treat upper respiratory tract(e.g. otitis media, bacterial tracheitis, acute epiglottitis,thyroiditis), lower respiratory (e.g. empyema, lung abscess), cardiac(e.g. infective endocarditis), gastrointestinal (e.g. secretorydiarrhoea, splenic abscess, retroperitoneal abscess), CNS (e.g. cerebralabscess), eye (e.g. blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis,endophthalmitis, preseptal & orbital cellulitis, darcryocystitis),kidney and urinary tract (e.g. epididymitis, intrarenal and perinephricabscess, toxic shock syndrome), skin (e.g. impetigo, folliculitis ,cutaneous abscesses, cellulitis, wound infection, bacterial myositis)bone and joint (e.g. septic arthritis, osteomyelitis).; assaying geneticvariation; and administering a RsbV-1 polypeptide or polynucleotide toan organism to raise an immunological response against a bacteria,especially a Staphylococcus.

In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of this and otheraspects of the invention, there are provided polynucleotides thathybridize to RsbV-1 polynucleotide sequences.

In certain additional preferred embodiments of this aspect of theinvention, there are provided antibodies against RsbV-1 polypeptides.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there areprovided RsbV-1 agonists which are also preferably bacteriostatic orbacteriocidal.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, thereare provided RsbV-1 antagonists which are also preferably bacteriostaticor bacteriocidal.

In a further aspect of the invention, there are provided compositionscomprising a RsbV-1 polynucleotide or a RsbV-1 polypeptide foradministration to a cell or to a multicellular organism.

Various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of thedisclosed invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in theart from reading the following description and from reading the otherparts of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings depict certain embodiments of the invention. Theyare illustrative only and do not limit the invention otherwise disclosedherein.

FIG. 1 shows the polynucleotide sequence of Staphylococcus aureus RsbV-1[SEQ ID NO:1].

FIG. 2 shows the amino acid sequence of Staphylococcus aureus RsbV-1[SEQ ID NO:2] deduced from the polynucleotide sequence of FIG. 1.

GLOSSARY

The following illustrative explanations are provided to facilitateunderstanding of certain terms used frequently herein, particularly inthe Examples. The explanations are provided as a convenience and are notlimitative of the invention.

RsbV-1-BINDING MOLECULE, as used herein, refers to molecules or ionswhich bind or interact specifically with RsbV-1 polypeptides orpolynucleotides of the present invention, including, for example enzymesubstrates, cell membrane components and classical receptors. Bindingbetween polypeptides of the invention and such molecules, includingbinding or binding or interaction molecules may be exclusive topolypeptides of the invention, which is preferred, or it may be highlyspecific for polypeptides of the invention, which is also preferred, orit may be highly specific to a group of proteins that includespolypeptides of the invention, which is preferred, or it may be specificto several groups of proteins at least one of which includes apolypeptide of the invention. Binding molecules also include antibodiesand antibody-derived reagents that bind specifically to polypeptides ofthe invention.

GENETIC ELEMENT generally means a polynucleotide comprising a regionthat encodes a polypeptide or a polynucleotide region that regulatesreplication, transcription or translation or other processes importantto expression of the polypeptide in a host cell, or a polynucleotidecomprising both a region that encodes a polypeptide and a regionoperably linked thereto that regulates expression. Genetic elements maybe comprised within a vector that replicates as an episomal element;that is, as a molecule physically independent of the host cell genome.They may be comprised within plasmids. Genetic elements also may becomprised within a host cell genome; not in their natural state but,rather, following manipulation such as isolation, cloning andintroduction into a host cell in the form of purified DNA or in avector, among others.

HOST CELL is a cell which has been transformed or transfected, or iscapable of transformation or transfection by an exogenous polyncleotidesequence.

IDENTlTY or SIMILARITY, as known in the art, are relationships betweentwo or more polypeptide sequences or two or more polynucleotidesequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art,identity also means the degree of sequence relatedness betweenpolypeptide or polynucleotide sequences, as the case may be, asdetermined by the match between strings of such sequences. Both identityand similarity can be readily calculated (Computational MolecularBiology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988;Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, Smith, D. W., ed.,Academic Press, New York, 1993; Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, PartI, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey,1994; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje, G., AcademicPress, 1987; and Sequence Analysis Primer, Oribskov, M. and Devereux,J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York, 1991). While there exist a numberof methods to measure identity and similarity between two polynucleotideor two polypeptide sequences, both terms are well known to skilledartisans (Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje, G.,Academic Press, 1987; Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M. andDevereux, J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York, 1991; and Carillo, H.,and Lipman, D., SIAM J. Applied Math., 48: 1073 (1988). Methods commonlyemployed to determine identity or similarity between sequences include,but are not limited to those disclosed in Carillo, H., and Lipman, D.,SIAM J. Applied Math., 48:1073 (1988). Preferred methods to determineidentity are designed to give the largest match between the sequencestested. Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified incomputer programs. Preferred computer program methods to determineidentity and similarity between two sequences include, but are notlimited to, GCG program package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic AcidsResearch 12(1): 387 (1984)), BLASTP, BLASTN, and FASTA (Atschul, S. F.et al., J. Molec. Biol. 215: 403 (1990)).

ISOLATED means altered “by the hand of man” from its natural state;i.e., that, if it occurs in nature, it has been changed or removed fromits original environment, or both For example, a naturally occurringpolynucleotide or a polypeptide naturally present in a living organismin its natural state is not “isolated,” but the same polynucleotide orpolypeptide separated from the coexisting materials of its natural stateis “isolated”, as the term is employed herein. As part of or followingisolation, such polynucleotides can be joined to other polynucleotides,such as DNAs, for mutagenesis, to form fusion proteins, and forpropagation or expression in a host, for instance. The isolatedpolynucleotides, alone or joined to other polynucleotides such asvectors, can be introduced into host cells, in culture or in wholeorganisms. Introduced into host cells in culture or in whole organisms,such DNAs still would be isolated, as the term is used herein, becausethey would not be in their naturally occurring form or environment.Similarly, the polynucleotides and polypeptides may occur in acomposition, such as a media formulations, solutions for introduction ofpolynucleotides or polypeptides, for example, into cells, compositionsor solutions for chemical or enzymatic reactions, for instance, whichare not naturally occurring compositions, and, therein remain isolatedpolynucleotides or polypeptides within the meaning of that term as it isemployed herein.

POLYNUCLEOTIDE(S) generally refers to any polyribonucleotide orpolydeoxribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modifiedRNA or DNA. Thus, for instance, polynucleotides as used herein refersto, among others, single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixtureof single- and double-stranded regions or single-, double- andtriple-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA thatis mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid moleculescomprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically,double-stranded, or triple-stranded, or a mixture of single- anddouble-stranded regions. In addition, polynucleotide as used hereinrefers to triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA andDNA. The strands in such regions may be from the same molecule or fromdifferent molecules. The regions may include all of one or more of themolecules, but more typically involve only a region of some of themolecules. One of the molecules of a triple-helical region often is anoligonucleotide. As used herein, the term polynucleotide includes DNAsor RNAs as described above that contain one or more modified bases.Thus, DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for otherreasons are “polynucleotides” as that term is intended herein. Moreover,DNAs or RNAs comprising unusual bases, such as inosine, or modifiedbases, such as tritylated bases, to name just two examples, arepolynucleotides as the term is used herein. It will be appreciated thata great variety of modifications have been made to DNA and RNA thatserve many useful purposes known to those of skill in the art The termpolynucleotide as it is employed herein embraces such chemically,enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of polynucleotides, aswell as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses andcells, including simple and complex cells, inter alia. Polynucleotidesembraces short polynucleotides often referred to as oligonucleotide(s).

POLYPEPTIDES, as used herein, includes all polypeptides as describedbelow. The basic structure of polypeptides is well known and has beendescribed in innumerable textbooks and other publications in the art. Inthis context, the term is used herein to refer to any peptide or proteincomprising two or more amino acids joined to each other in a linearchain by peptide bonds. As used herein, the term refers to both shortchains, which also commonly are referred to in the art as peptides,oligopeptides and oligomers, for example, and to longer chains, whichgenerally are referred to in the art as proteins, of which there aremany types. It will be appreciated that polypeptides often contain aminoacids other than the 20 amino acids commonly referred to as the 20naturally occurring amino acids, and that many amino acids, includingthe terminal amino acids, may be modified in a given polypeptide, eitherby natural processes, such as processing and other post-translationalmodifications, but also by chemical modification techniques which arewell known to the art. Even the common modifications that occurnaturally in polypeptides are too numerous to list exhaustively here,but they are well described in basic texts and in more detailedmonographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature, and they arewell known to those of skill in the art. Among the known modificationswhich may be present in polypeptides of the present are, to name anillustrative few, acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation,covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety,covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalentattachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment ofphosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bondformation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formationof cystine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation,gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation,iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, proteolyticprocessing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation,sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteinssuch as arginylation, and ubiquitination. Such modifications are wellknown to those of skill and have been described in great detail in thescientific literature. Several particularly common modifications,glycosylation, lipid attachment, sulfation, gamma-carboxylation ofglutamic acid residues, hydroxylation and ADP rbosylation, for instance,are described in most basic texts, such as, for instancePROTEINS—STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton,W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993). Many detailed reviews areavailable on this subject, such as, for example, those provided by Wold,F., Posttranslational Protein Modifications: Perspectives and Prospects,pgs. 1-12 in POSTTRANSLATIONAL COVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C.Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York (1983); Seifter et al., Meth.Enzymol. 182:626-646 (1990) and Rattan et al., Protein Sthesis:Posttranslational Modifications and Aging, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 663:48-62 (1992). It will be appreciated, as is well known and as notedabove, that polypeptides are not always entirely linear. For instance,polypeptides may be generally as a result of posttranslation events,including natural processing event and events brought about by humanmanipulation which do not occur naturally. Circular, branched andbranched circular polypeptides may be synthesized by non-translationnatural process and by entirely synthetic methods, as well.Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptidebackbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini.In fact, blockage of the amino or carboxyl group in a polypeptide, orboth, by a covalent modification, is common in naturally occurring andsynthetic polypeptides and such modifications may be present inpolypeptides of the present invention, as well. For instance, the aminoterminal residue of polypeptides made in E. coli or other cells, priorto proteolytic processing, almost invariably will be N-formylmethionine.During post-translational modification of the peptide, a methionineresidue at the NH₂-teminus may be deleted. Accordingly, this inventioncontemplates the use of both the methionine-containing and themethionineless amino terminal variants of the protein of the invention.The modifications that occur in a polypeptide often will be a functionof how it is made. For polypeptides made by expressing a cloned gene ina host, for instance, the nature and extent of the modifications inlarge part will be determined by the host cell posttranslationalmodification capacity and the modification signals present in thepolypeptide amino acid sequence. For instance, as is well known,glycosylation often does not occur in bacterial hosts such as, forexample, E. coli. Accordingly, when glycosylation is desired, apolypeptide should be expressed in a glycosylating host, generally aeukaryotic cell. Insect cell often carry out the same posttanslationalglycosylations as mammalian cells and, for this reason, insect cellexpression systems have been developed to express efficiently mammalianproteins having native pattemns of glycosylation, inter alia. Similarconsiderations apply to other modifications. It will be appreciated thatthe same type of modification may be present in the same or varyingdegree at several sites in a given polypeptide. Also, a givenpolypeptide may contain many types of modifications. In general, as usedherein, the term polypeptide encompasses all such modifications,particularly those that are present in polypeptides synthesizedrecombinantly by expressing a polynucleotide in a host cell.

VARIANT(S) of polynucleotides or polypeptides, as the term is usedherein, are polynucleotides or polypeptides that differ from a referencepolynucleotide or polypeptide, respectively. Variants in this sense aredescribed below and elsewhere in the present disclosure in greaterdetail. (1) A polynucleotide that differs in nucleotide sequence fromanother, reference polynucleotide. Generally, differences are limited sothat the nucleotide sequences of the reference and the variant areclosely similar overall and, in many regions, identical. As noted below,changes in the nucleotide sequence of the variant may be silent. Thatis, they may not alter the amino acids encoded by the polynucleotide.Where alterations are limited to silent changes of this type a variantwill encode a polypeptide with the same amino acid sequence as thereference. Also as noted below, changes in the nucleotide sequence ofthe variant may alter the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide encodedby the reference polynucleotide. Such nucleotide changes may result inamino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncationsin the polypeptide encoded by the reference sequence, as discussedbelow. (2) A polypeptide that differs in amino acid sequence fromanother, reference polypeptide. Generally, differences are limited sothat the sequences of the reference and the variant are closely similaroverall and, in many region, identical. A variant and referencepolypeptide may differ in amino acid sequence by one or moresubstitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations, which maybe present in any combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel RsbV-1 polypeptides andpolynucleotides, among other things, as described in greater detailbelow. In particular, the invention relates to polypeptides andpolynucleotides of a novel RsbV-1 gene of Staphylococcus aureus, whichis related by amino acid sequence homology to Bacillus subtillis RsbVpolypeptide. The invention relates especially to RsbV-1 having thenucleotide and amino acid sequences set out in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,respectively, and to the RsbV-1 nucleotide and amino acid sequences ofthe DNA in National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Limited(“NCIMB”) Deposit No. 40771, which is herein referred to as “thedeposited bacterial strain” or as the “DNA of the deposited bacterialstrain.” It will be appreciated that the nucleotide and amino acidsequences set out in FIGS. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1] and 2 [SEQ ID NO:2] wereobtained by sequencing the DNA of the deposited bacterial strain. Hence,the sequence of RsbV-1 of the deposited bacterial strain is controllingas to any discrepancies between it (and the sequence it encodes) and thesequences of FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1] and FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2].

Polynucleotides

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there areprovided isolated polynucleotides which encode the RsbV-1 polypeptidehaving the deduced amino acid sequence of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2].

Using the information provided herein, such as the polynucleotidesequence set out in FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1], a polynucleotide of thepresent invention encoding RsbV-1 polypeptide may be obtained usingstandard cloning and screening procedures, such as those for cloning andsequencing chromosomal DNA fragments from Staphylococcus aureus WCUH 29cells as starting material, followed by obtaining a full length clone.For example, to obtain a polynucleotide of the invention sequence, suchas that sequence given in FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1] typically a library ofclones of chromosomal DNA of Staphylococcus aureus WCUH 29 in E. coli orsome other suitable host is probed with a radiolabelled oligonucleotide,preferably a 17-mer or longer, derived from a partial sequence. Clonescarrying DNA identical to that of the probe can then be distinguishedusing high stringency washes. By sequencing the individual clones thusidentified with sequencing primers designed from the original sequenceit is then possible to extend the sequence in both directions todetermine the full gene sequence. Conveniently such sequencing isperformed using denatured double stranded DNA prepared from a plasmidclone. Suitable techniques are described by Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E. F.and Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd Ed.;Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989).(see Screening By Hybridization 1.90 and Sequencing DenaturedDouble-Stranded DNA Templates 13.70). Illustrative of the invention, thepolynucleotide set out in FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1] was discovered in a DNAlibrary derived from Staphylococcus aureus WCUH 29.

RsbV-1 of the invention is structurally related to other proteins of theSigB operon family, as shown by the results of sequencing the DNAencoding RsbV-1 of the deposited bacterial strain. The DNA sequence thusobtained is set out in FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1]. It contains an open readingframe encoding a protein of having about the number of amino acidresidues set forth in FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2] with a deduced molecularweight that can be calculated using amino acid residue molecular weightvalues well known in the art. The polynucleotide of FIG. 1 [ SEQ IDNO:1], between nucleotide number 1 through number 324 or 327 encodes thepolypeptide of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2 ]. The stop codon begins atnucleotide number 325 of FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1]. The protein exhibitsgreatest homology to Bacillus subtillis RsbV protein among knownproteins. RsbV-1 of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2] has about 42.1% identity overits entire length and about 67.3% similarity over its entire length withthe amino acid sequence of Bacillus subtillis RsbV.

Polynucleotides of the present invention may be in the form of RNA, suchas mRNA, or in the form of DNA, including, for instance, cDNA andgenomic DNA obtained by cloning or produced by chemical synthetictechniques or by a combination thereof. The DNA may be double-strandedor single-stranded. Single-stranded DNA may be the coding strand, alsoknown as the sense strand, or it may be the non-coding strand, alsoreferred to as the anti-sense strand.

The coding sequence which encodes the polypeptide may be identical tothe coding sequence of the polynucleotide shown in FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1].It also may be a polynucleotide with a different sequence, which, as aresult of the redundancy (degeneracy) of the genetic code, encodes thepolypeptide of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2].

Polynucleotides of the present invention which encode the polypeptide ofFIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2] may include, but are not limited to the codingsequence for the mature polypeptide, by itself; the coding sequence forthe mature polypeptide and additional coding sequences, such as thoseencoding a leader or secretory sequence, such as a pre-, or pro- orprepro-protein sequence; the coding sequence of the mature polypeptide,with or without the aforementioned additional coding sequences, togetherwith additional, noncoding sequences, including for example, but notlimited to non-coding 5′ and 3′ sequences, such as the transcribed,non-translated sequences that play a role in transcription (includingtermination signals, for example), ribosome binding, mRNA stabilityelements, and additional coding sequence which encode additional aminoacids, such as those which provide additional functionalities. Thus, forinstance, the polypeptide may be fused to a marker sequence, such as apeptide, which facilitates purification of the fused polypeptide. Incertain embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the marker sequenceis a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in the pQE vector(Qiagen, Inc.), among others, many of which are commercially available.As described in Gentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci., USA 86: 821-824(1989), for instance, hexa-histidine provides for convenientpurification of the fusion protein. The HA tag may also be used tocreate fusion proteins and corresponds to an epitope derived ofinfluenza hemagglutinin protein, which has been described by Wilson etal., Cell 37: 767 (1984), for instance. Polynucleotides of the inventionalso include, but are not limited to, polynucleotides comprising astructural gene and its naturally associated genetic elements.

In accordance with the foregoing, the term “polynucleotide encoding apolypeptide” as used herein encompasses polynucleotides which include asequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention, particularlybacterial, and more particularly the Staphylococcus aureus RsbV-1 havingthe amino acid sequence set out in FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2]. The termencompasses polynucleotides that include a single continuous region ordiscontinuous regions encoding the polypeptide (for example, interruptedby integrated phage or insertion sequence or editing) together withadditional regions, that also may contain coding and/or non-codingsequences.

The present invention further relates to variants of the herein abovedescribed polynucleotides which encode for fragments, analogs andderivatives of the polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence ofFIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2]. A variant of the polynucleotide may be a naturallyoccurring variant such as a naturally occurring allelic variant, or itray be a variant that is not known to occur naturally. Suchnon-naturally occurring variants of the polynucleotide may be made bymutagenesis techniques, including those applied to polynucleotides,cells or organisms.

Among variants in this regard are variants that differ from theaforementioned polynucleotides by nucleotide substitutions, deletions oradditions. The substitutions, deletions or additions may involve one ormore nucleotides. The variants may be altered in coding or non-codingregions or both. Alterations in the coding regions may produceconservative or non-conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions oradditions.

Among the particularly preferred embodiments of the invention in thisregard are polynucleotides encoding polypeptides having the amino acidsequence of RsbV-1 set out in FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2]; variants, analogs,derivatives and fragments thereof, and fragments of the variants,analogs and derivatives.

Further particularly preferred in this regard are polynucleotidesencoding RsbV-1 variants, analogs, derivatives and fragments, andvariants, analogs and derivatives of the fragments, which have the aminoacid sequence of RsbV-1 polypeptide of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2] in whichseveral, a few, 5 to 10, 1 to 5, 1 to 3, 2, 1 or no amino acid residuesare substituted, deleted or added, in any combination. Especiallypreferred among these are silent substitutions, additions and deletions,which do not alter the properties and activities of RsbV-1. Alsoespecially preferred in this regard are conservative substitutions. Mosthighly preferred are polynucleotides encoding polypeptides having theamino acid sequence of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2], without substitutions.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are polynucleotides thatare at least 70% identical over their entire length to a polynucleotideencoding RsbV-1 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set out inFIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2], and polynucleotides which are complementary tosuch polynucleotides. Alternatively, most highly preferred arepolynucleotides that comprise a region that is at least 80% identicalover their entire length to a polynucleotide encoding RsbV-1 polypeptideof the Staphylococcus aureus DNA of the deposited bacterial strain andpolynucleotides complementary thereto. In this regard, polynucleotidesat least 90% identical over their entire length to the same areparticularly preferred, and among these particularly preferredpolynucleotides, those with at least 95% are especially preferred.Furthermore, those with at least 97% are highly preferred among thosewith at least 95%, and among these those with at least 98% and at least99% are particularly highly preferred, with at least 99% being the morepreferred.

Preferred embodiments in this respect, moreover, are polynucleotideswhich encode polypeptides which retain substantially the same biologicalfunction or activity as the mature polypeptide encoded by the DNA ofFIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1].

The present invention further relates to polynucleotides that hybridizeto the herein above-described sequences. In this regard, the presentinvention especially relates to polynucleotides which hybridize understringent conditions to the herein above-described polynucleotides. Asherein used, the term “stringent conditions” means hybridization willoccur only if there is at least 95% and preferably at least 97% identitybetween the sequences.

As discussed additionally herein regarding polynucleotide assays of theinvention, for instance, polynucleotides of the invention as discussedabove, may be used as a hybridization probe for RNA, cDNA and genomicDNA to isolate full-length cDNAs and genomic clones encoding RsbV-1 andto isolate cDNA and genomic clones of other genes that have a highsequence similarity to the RsbV-1 gene. Such probes generally willcomprise at least 15 bases. Preferably, such probes will have at least30 bases and may have at least 50 bases. Particularly preferred probeswill have at least 30 bases and will have 50 bases or less.

For example, the coding region of the RsbV-1 gene may be isolated byscreening using the known DNA sequence to synthesize an oligonucleotideprobe. A labeled oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to thatof a gene of the present invention is then used to screen a library ofcDNA, genomic DNA or mRNA to determine which members of the library theprobe hybridizes to.

The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention may beemployed as research reagents and materials for discovery of treatmentsof and diagnostics for disease, particularly human disease, as furtherdiscussed herein relating to polynucleotide assays, inter alia.

The polynucleotides of the invention that are oligonucleotides derivedfrom the sequences of SEQ ID NOS:1 and 2 may be used in the processesherein as described, but preferably for PCR, to determine whether or notthe Staphylococcus aureus genes identified herein in whole or in partare transcribed in infected tissue. It is recognized that such sequenceswill also have utility in diagnosis of the stage of infection and typeof infection the pathogen has attained.

The polynucleotides may encode a polypeptide which is the mature proteinplus additional amino or carboxyl-terminal amino acids, or amino acidsinterior to the mature polypeptide (when the mature form has more thanone polypeptide chain, for instance). Such sequences may play a role inprocessing of a protein from precursor to a mature form, may allowprotein transport, may lengthen or shorten protein half-life or mayfacilitate manipulation of a protein for assay or production, amongother things. As generally is the case in vivo, the additional aminoacids may be processed away from the mature protein by cellular enzymes.

A precursor protein, having the mature form of the polypeptide fused toone or more prosequences may be an inactive form of the polypeptide.When prosequences are removed such inactive precursors generally areactivated. Some or all of the prosequences may be removed beforeactivation. Generally, such precursors are called proproteins.

In sum, a polynucleotide of the present invention may encode a matureprotein, a mature protein plus a leader sequence (which may be referredto as a preprotein), a precursor of a mature protein having one or moreprosequences which are not the leader sequences of a preprotein, or apreproprotein, which is a precursor to a proprotein, having a leadersequence and one or more prosequences, which generally are removedduring processing steps that produce active and mature forms of thepolypeptide.

Deposited Materials

The deposit has been made under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on theInternational Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for Purposesof Patent Procedure. The strain will be irrevocably and withoutrestriction or condition released to the public upon the issuance of apatent. The deposit is provided merely as convenience to those of skillin the art and is not an admission that a deposit is required forenablement, such as that required under 35 U.S.C. §112.

A deposit containing a Staphylococcus aureus RsbV-1 bacterial strain hasbeen deposited with the National Collections of Industrial and MarineBacteria Limited (“NCIMB”), 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB2 1RY,Scotland on Sep. 11, 1995 and assigned NCIMB Deposit No. 40771. TheStaphylococcus aureus bacterial strain deposit is referred to herein as“the deposited strain” or as “the DNA of the deposited strain.” Thedeposited material is a bacterial strain that contains the full lengthRsbV-1 DNA, referred to as “NCIMB 40771” upon deposit.

The sequence of the polynucleotides contained in the deposited material,as well as the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded thereby,are controlling in the event of any conflict with any description ofsequences herein.

A license may be required to make, use or sell the deposited materials,and no such license is hereby granted.

Polypeptides

The present invention further relates to a RsbV-1 polypeptide which hasa deduced amino acid sequence of 108 amino acids in length, as set forthin FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2].

The invention also relates to fragments, analogs and derivatives ofthese polypeptides. The terms “fragment,” “derivative” and “analog” whenreferring to the polypeptide of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2], means apolypeptide which retains essentially the same biological function oractivity as such polypeptide. Thus, an analog includes a proproteinwhich can be activated by cleavage of the proprotein portion to producean active mature polypeptide.

The fragment, derivative or analog of the polypeptide of FIG. 2 [SEQ IDNO:2] may be (i) one in which one or more of the amino acid residues aresubstituted with a conserved or non-conserved amino acid residue(preferably a conserved amino acid residue) and such substituted aminoacid residue may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code, or (ii)one in which one or more of the amino acid residues includes asubstituent group, or (iii) one in which the mature polypeptide is fusedwith another compound, such as a compound to increase the half-life ofthe polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol), or (iv) one in whichthe additional amino acids are fused to the mature polypeptide, such asa leader or secretory sequence or a sequence which is employed forpurification of the mature polypeptide or a proprotein sequence. Suchfragments, derivatives and analogs are deemed to be within the scope ofthose skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

Among the particularly preferred embodiments of the invention in thisregard are polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of RsbV-1 set outin FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2], variants, analogs, derivatives and fragmentsthereof, and variants, analogs and derivatives of the fragments.Alternatively, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention inthis regard are polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of theRsbV-1, variants, analogs, derivatives and fragments thereof, andvariants, analogs and derivatives of the fragments.

Among preferred variants are those that vary from a reference byconservative amino acid substitutions. Such substitutions are those thatsubstitute a given amino acid in a polypeptide by another amino acid oflike characteristics. Typically seen as conservative substitutions arethe replacements, one for another, among the aliphatic amino acids Ala,Val, Leu and Ile; interchange of the hydroxyl residues Ser and Thr,exchange of the acidic residues Asp and Glu, substitution between theamide residues Asn and Gln, exchange of the basic residues Lys and Argand replacements among the aromatic residues Phe, Tyr.

Further particularly preferred in this regard are variants, analogs,derivatives and fragments, and variants, analogs and derivatives of thefragments, having the amino acid sequence of the RsbV-1 polypeptide ofFIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2], in which several, a few, 5 to 10, 1 to 5, 1 to 3,2, 1 or no amino acid residues are substituted, deleted or added, in anycombination. Especially preferred among these are silent substitutions,additions and deletions, which do not alter the properties andactivities of the RsbV-1. Also especially preferred in this regard areconservative substitutions. Most highly preferred are polypeptideshaving the amino acid sequence of FIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2] withoutsubstitutions.

The polypeptides and polynucleotides of the present invention arepreferably provided in an isolated form, and preferably are purified tohomogeneity.

The polypeptides of the present invention include the polypeptide ofFIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2] (in particular the mature polypeptide) as well aspolypeptides which have at least 70% identity to the polypeptide of FIG.2 [SEQ ID NO:2], preferably at least 80% identity to the polypeptide ofFIG. 2 [SEQ ID NO:2], and more preferably at least 90% similarity (morepreferably at least 90% identity) to the polypeptide of FIG. 2 [SEQ IDNO:2] and still more preferably at least 95% similarity (still morepreferably at least 95% identity) to the polypeptide of FIG. 2 [SEQ IDNO:2] and also include portions of such polypeptides with such portionof the polypeptide generally containing at least 30 amino acids and morepreferably at least 50 amino acids.

Fragments or portions of the polypeptides of the present invention maybe employed for producing the corresponding full-length polypeptide bypeptide synthesis; therefore, the fragments may be employed asintermediates for producing the full-length polypeptides. Fragments orportions of the polynucleotides of the present invention may be used tosynthesize full-length polynucleotides of the present invention.

Fragments

Also among preferred embodiments of this aspect of the present inventionare polypeptides comprising fragments of RsbV-1, most particularlyfragments of RsbV-1 having the amino acid set out in FIG. 2 [SEQ IDNO:2], and fragments of variants and derivatives of the RsbV-1 of FIG. 2[SEQ ID NO:2].

In this regard a fragment is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequencethat entirely is the same as part but not all of the amino acid sequenceof the aforementioned RsbV-1 polypeptides and variants or derivativesthereof.

Such fragments may be “free-standing,” i.e., not part of or fused toother amino acids or polypeptides, or they may be comprised within alarger polypeptide of which they form a part or region. When comprisedwithin a larger polypeptide, the presently discussed fragments mostpreferably form a single continuous region. However, several fragmentsmay be comprised within a single larger polypeptide. For instance,certain preferred embodiments relate to a fragment of a RsbV-1polypeptide of the present comprised within a precursor polypeptidedesigned for expression in a host and having heterologous pre andpro-polypeptide regions fused to the amino terminus of the RsbV-1fragment and an additional region fused to the carboxyl terminus of thefragment. Therefore, fragments in one aspect of the meaning intendedherein, refers to the portion or portions of a fusion polypeptide orfusion protein derived from RsbV-1.

Representative examples of polypeptide fragments of the invention,include, for example, fragments from amino acid number 1-20, 21-40,41-60, 61-80, 81-100, and 101-108, and any combination of these 20 aminoacid fragments.

In this context “about” herein includes the particularly recited rangeslarger or smaller by several, a few, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid ateither extreme or at both extremes.

Preferred fragments of the invention include, for example, truncationpolypeptides of RsbV-1. Truncation polypeptides include RsbV-1polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of FIG. 2, or of variants orderivatives thereof, except for deletion of a continuous series ofresidues (that is, a continuous region, part or portion) that includesthe amino terminus, or a continuous series of residues that includes thecarboxyl terminus or, as in double truncation mutants, deletion of twocontinuous series of residues, one including the amino terminus and oneincluding the carboxyl terminus. Fragments having the size ranges setout about also are preferred embodiments of truncation fragments, whichare especially preferred among fragments generally. Degradation forms ofthe polypeptides of the invention in a host cell, particularly aStaphylococcus, are also preferred.

Also preferred in this aspect of the invention are fragmentscharacterized by structural or functional attributes of RsbV-1.Preferred embodiments of the invention in this regard include fragmentsthat comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions, beta-sheetand beta-sheet-forming regions, tuun and turn-forming regions, coil andcoil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alphaamphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions,surface-forming regions, substrate binding region, and high antigenicindex regions of RsbV-1, and combinations of such fragments.

Preferred regions are those that mediate activities of RsbV-1. Mosthighly preferred in this regard are fragments that have a chemical,biological or other activity of RsbV-1, including those with a similaractivity or an improved activity, or with a decreased undesirableactivity. Further preferred polypeptide fragments are those that areantigenic or immunogenic in an animal, especially in a human.

It will be appreciated that the invention also relates to, among others,polynucleotides encoding the aforementioned fragments, polynucleotidesthat hybridize to polynucleotides encoding the fragments, particularlythose that hybridize under stringent conditions, and polynucleotides,such as PCR primers, for amplifying polynucleotides that encode thefragments. In these regards, preferred polynucleotides are those thatcorrespond to the preferred fragments, as discussed above.

Vectors, Host Cells, Expression

The present invention also relates to vectors which comprise apolynucleotide or polynucleotides of the present invention, host cellswhich are genetically engineered with vectors of the invention and theproduction of polypeptides of the invention by recombinant techniques.

Host cells can be genetically engineered to incorporate polynucleotidesand express polypeptides of the present invention. Introduction of apolynucleotides into the host cell can be affected by calcium phosphatetransfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, transvection,microinjection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation,transduction, scrape loading, ballistic introduction, infection or othermethods. Such methods are described in many standard laboratory manuals,such as Davis et al., BASIC METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, (1986) andSambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd Ed., ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989).

Polynucelotide constructs in host cells can be used in a conventionalmanner to produce the gene product encoded by the recombinant sequence.Alternatively, the polypeptides of the invention can be syntheticallyproduced by conventional peptide synthesizers.

Mature proteins can be expressed in mammalian cells, yeast, bacteria, orother cells under the control of appropriate promoters. Cell-freetranslation systems can also be employed to produce such proteins usingRNAs derived from the DNA constructs of the present invention.Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for use with prokaryotic andeukaryotic hosts are described by Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: ALABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, ColdSpring Harbor, N.Y. (1989).

In accordance with this aspect of the invention the vector may be, forexample, a plasmid vector, a single or double-stranded phage vector, asingle or double-stranded RNA or DNA viral vector. Plasmids generallyare designated herein by a lower case p preceded and/or followed bycapital letters and/or numbers, in accordance with standard namingconventions that are familiar to those of skill in the art. Startingplasmids disclosed herein are either commercially available, publiclyavailable, or can be constructed from available plasmids by routineapplication of well known, published procedures. Many plasmids and othercloning and expression vectors that can be used in accordance with thepresent invention are well known and readily available to those of skillin the art.

Preferred among vectors, in certain respects, are those for expressionof polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention. Generally,such vectors comprise cis-acting control regions effective forexpression in a host operatively linked to the polynucleotide to beexpressed. Appropriate trans-acting factors either are supplied by thehost, supplied by a complementing vector or supplied by the vectoritself upon introduction into the host.

In certain preferred embodiments in this regard, the vectors provide forspecific expression. Such specific expression may be inducibleexpression or expression only in certain types of cells or bothinducible and cell-specific. Particularly preferred among induciblevectors are vectors that can be induced for expression by environmentalfactors that are easy to manipulate, such as temperature and nutrientadditives. A variety of vectors suitable to this aspect of theinvention, including constitutive and inducible expression vectors foruse in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts, are well known and employedroutinely by those of skill in the art.

A great variety of expression vectors can be used to express apolypeptide of the invention. Such vectors include, among others,chromosomal, episomal and virus-derived vectors, e.g., vectors derivedfrom bacterial plasmids, from bacteriophage, from transposons, fromyeast episomes, from insertion elements, from yeast chromosomalelements, from viruses such as baculoviruses, papova viruses, such asSV40, vaccinia viruses, adenoviruses, fowl pox viruses, pseudorabiesviruses and retroviruses, and vectors derived from combinations thereof,such as those derived from plasmid and bacteriophage genetic elements,such as cosmids and phagemids, all may be used for expression inaccordance with this aspect of the present invention. Generally, anyvector suitable to maintain, propagate or express polynucleotides toexpress a polypeptide in a host may be used for expression in thisregard.

The appropriate DNA sequence may be inserted into the vector by any of avariety of well-known and routine techniques, such as, for example,those set forth in Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORYMANUAL, 2nd Ed.; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold SpringHarbor, N.Y. (1989).

The DNA sequence in the expression vector is operatively linked toappropriate expression control sequence(s), including, for instance, apromoter to direct mRNA transcription. Representatives of such promotersinclude, but are limited to, the phage lambda PL promoter, the E. colilac, trp and tac promoters, the SV40 early and late promoters andpromoters of retroviral LTRS.

In general, expression constructs will contain sites for transcriptioninitiation and termination, and, in the transcribed region, a ribosomebinding site for translation. The coding portion of the maturetranscripts expressed by the constructs will include a translationinitiating AUG at the beginning and a termination codon appropriatelypositioned at the end of the polypeptide to be translated.

In addition, the constructs may contain control regions that regulate aswell as engender expression. Generally, in accordance with many commonlypracticed procedures, such regions will operate by controllingtranscription, such as transcription factors, repressor binding sitesand termination, among others.

Vectors for propagation and expression generally will include selectablemarkers and amplification regions, such as, for example, those set forthin Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd Ed.;Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989).

Representative examples of appropriate hosts include bacterial cells,such as streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, streptomyces and Bacillussubtilis cells; fungal cells, such as yeast cells and Aspergillus cells;insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9 cells; animalcells such as CHO, COS, HeLa, C127, 3T3, BHK, 293 and Bowes melanomacells; and plant cells.

The following vectors, which are commercially available, are provided byway of example. Among vectors preferred for use in bacteria are pQE70,pQE60 and pQE-9, available from Qiagen; pBS vectors, Phagescriptvectors, Bluescript vectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, availablefrom Stratagene; and ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5available from Pharmacia, and pBR322 (ATCC 37017). Among preferredeukaryotic vectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG availablefrom Stratagene; and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available fromPharmacia. These vectors are listed solely by way of illustration of themany commercially available and well known vectors that are available tothose of skill in the art for use in accordance with this aspect of thepresent invention. It will be appreciated that any other plasmid orvector suitable for, for example, introduction, maintenance, propagationor expression of a polynucleotide or polypeptide of the invention in ahost may be used in this aspect of the invention.

Promoter regions can be selected from any desired gene using vectorsthat contain a reporter transcription unit lacking a promoter region,such as a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (“CAT”) transcription unit,downstream of restriction site or sites for introducing a candidatepromoter fragment; i.e., a fragment that may contain a promoter. As iswell known, introduction into the vector of a promoter-containingfragment at the restriction site upstream of the cat gene engendersproduction of CAT activity, which can be detected by standard CATassays. Vectors suitable to this end are well known and readilyavailable, such as pKK232-8 and pCM7. Promoters for expression ofpolynucleotides of the present invention include not only well known andreadily available promoters, but also promoters that readily may beobtained by the foregoing technique, using a reporter gene.

Among known prokaryotic promoters suitable for expression ofpolynucleotides and polypeptides in accordance with the presentinvention are the E. coli lacI and lacZ and promoters, the T3 and T7promoters, the gpt promoter, the lambda PR, PL promoters and the trppromoter.

Among known eukaryotic promoters suitable in this regard are the CMVimmediate early promoter, the HSV thymidine kinase promoter, the earlyand late SV40 promoters, the promoters of retroviral LTRs, such as thoseof the Rous sarcoma virus (“RSV”), and metallothionein promoters, suchas the mouse metallothionein-I promoter.

Recombinant expression vectors will include, for example, origins ofreplication, a promoter preferably derived from a highly-expressed geneto direct transcription of a downstream structural sequence, and aselectable marker to permit isolation of vector containing cells afterexposure to the vector.

Polynucleotides of the invention, encoding the heterologous structuralsequence of a polypeptide of the invention generally will be insertedinto the vector using standard techniques so that it is operably linkedto the promoter for expression. The polynucleotide will be positioned sothat the transcription start site is located appropriately 5′ to aribosome binding site. The ribosome binding site will be 5′ to the AUGthat initiates translation of the polypeptide to be expressed.Generally, there will be no other open reading frames that begin with aninitiation codon, usually AUG, and lie between the ribosome binding siteand the initiation codon. Also, generally, there will be a translationstop codon at the end of the polypeptide and there will be apolyadenylation signal in constructs for use in eukaryotic hosts.Transcription termination signal appropriately disposed at the 3′ end ofthe transcribed region may also be included in the polynucleotideconstruct.

For secretion of the translated protein into the lumen of theendoplasmic reticulum, into the periplasmic space or into theextracellular environment, appropriate secretion signals may beincorporated into the expressed polypeptide. These signals may beendogenous to the polypeptide or they may be heterologous signals.

The polypeptide may be expressed in a modified form, such as a fuisionprotein, and may include not only secretion signals but also additionalheterologous functional regions. Thus, for instance, a region ofadditional amino acids, particularly charged amino acids, may be addedto the C- or N-terminus of the polypeptide to improve stability andpersistence in the host cell, during purification or during subsequenthandling and storage. Also, region also may be added to the polypeptideto facilitate purification. Such regions may be removed prior to finalpreparation of the polypeptide. The addition of peptide moieties topolypeptides to engender secretion or excretion, to improve stability orto facilitate purification, among others, are familiar and routinetechniques in the art. A preferred fusion protein comprises aheterologous region from immunolglobulin that is useful to solubilize orpurify polypeptides. For example, EP-A-O 464 533 (Canadian counterpart2045869) discloses fuision proteins comprising various portions ofconstant region of immunoglobin molecules together with another proteinor part thereof. In drug discovery, for example, proteins have beenfused with antibody Fc portions for the purpose of high-throughputscreening assays to identify antagonists. See, D. Bennett et al.,Journal of Molecular Recognition, Vol. 8 52-58 (1995) and K. Johanson etal., The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 270, No. 16, pp 9459-9471(1995).

Cells typically then are harvested by centrifugation, disrupted byphysical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extract retained forfurther purification.

Microbial cells employed in expression of proteins can be disrupted byany convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication,mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents, such methods arewell know to those skilled in the art

Mammalian expression vectors may comprise an origin of replication, asuitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome bindingsites, polyadenylation regions, splice donor and acceptor sites,transcriptional termination sequences, and 5′ flanking non-transcribedsequences that are necessary for expression.

RsbV-1 polypeptide can be recovered and purified from recombinant cellcultures by well-known methods including ammonium sulfate or ethanolprecipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography,phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography,affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectinchromatography. Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatographyis employed for purification. Well known techniques for refoldingprotein may be employed to regenerate active conformation when thepolypeptide is denatured during isolation and or purification.

Polynucleotide Assays

This invention is also related to the use of the RsbV-1 polynucleotidesto detect complementary polynucleotides such as, for example, as adiagnostic reagent. Detection of RsbV-1 in a eukaryote, particularly amammal, and especially a human, will provide a diagnostic method fordiagnosis of a disease. Eukaryotes (herein also “individual(s)”),particularly mammals, and especially humans, infected with an organismcomprising the RsbV-1 gene may be detected at the DNA level by a varietyof techniques. Nucleic acids for diagnosis may be obtained from aninfected individual's cells and tissues, such as bone, blood, muscle,cartilage, and skin. Genomic DNA may be used directly for detection ormay be amplified enzymatically by using PCR (Saiki et al., Nature, 324:163-166 (1986) prior to analysis. RNA or cDNA may also be used in thesame ways. As an example, PCR primers complementary to the nucleic acidencoding RsbV-1 can be used to identify and analyze RsbV-1 presenceand/or expression. Using PCR, characterization of the strain ofprokaryote present in a eukaryote, particularly a mammal, and especiallya human, may be made by an analysis of the genotype of the prokaryotegene. For example, deletions and insertions can be detected by a changein size of the amplified product in comparison to the genotype of areference sequence. Point mutations can be identified by hybridizingamplified DNA to radiolabeled RsbV-1 RNA or alternatively, radiolabeledRsbV-1 antisense DNA sequences. Perfectly matched sequences can bedistinguished from mismatched duplexes by RNase A digestion or bydifferences in melting temperatures.

Sequence differences between a reference gene and genes having mutationsalso may be revealed by direct DNA sequencing. In addition, cloned DNAsegments may be employed as probes to detect specific DNA segments. Thesensitivity of such methods can be greatly enhanced by appropriate useof PCR or another amplification method. For example, a sequencing primeris used with double-stranded PCR product or a single-stranded templatemolecule generated by a modified PCR. The sequence determination isperformed by conventional procedures with radiolabeled nucleotide or byautomatic sequencing procedures with fluorescent-tags.

Genetic characterization based on DNA sequence differences may beachieved by detection of alteration in electrophoretic mobility of DNAfragments in gels, with or without denaturing agents. Small sequencedeletions and insertions can be visualized by high resolution gelelectrophoresis. DNA fragments of different sequences may bedistinguished on denaturing formamide gradient gels in which themobilities of different DNA fragments are retarded in the gel atdifferent positions according to their specific melting or partialmelting temperatures (see, e.g., Myers et al., Science, 230: 1242(1985)).

Sequence changes at specific locations also may be revealed by nucleaseprotection assays, such as RNase and S1 protection or the chemicalcleavage method (e.g., Cotton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 85:4397-4401 (1985)).

Thus, the detection of a specific DNA sequence may be achieved bymethods such as hybridization, RNase protection, chemical cleavage,direct DNA sequencing or the use of restriction enzymes, e.g.,restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) and Southern blottingof genomic DNA.

In addition to more conventional gel-electrophoresis and DNA sequencing,mutations also can be detected by in situ analysis.

Cells carrying mutations or polymorphisms in the gene of the presentinvention may also be detected at the DNA level by a variety oftechniques, to allow for serotyping, for example. For example, RT-PCRcan be used to detect mutations. It is particularly preferred to usedRT-PCR in conjunction with automated detection systems, such as, forexample, GeneScan. RNA or cDNA may also be used for the same purpose,PCR or RT-PCR. As an example, PCR primers complementary to the nucleicacid encoding RsbV-1 can be made using known methods and used toidentify and analyze mutations. These primers may be used for amplifyingRsbV-1 DNA isolated from a sample derived from an individual. Theinvention also provides primers with 1, 2, 3 or 4 nucleotides removedfrom the 5′ and/or the 3′ end. The primers may be used to amplify thegene isolated from the individual such that the gene may then be subjectto various techniques for elucidation of the DNA sequence. In this way,mutations in the DNA sequence may be diagnosed.

The invention provides a process for diagnosing, disease, preferablybacterial infections, more preferably Staphylococcus aureus, and mostpreferably upper respiratory tract (e.g. otitis media, bacterialtracheitis, acute epiglottitis, thyroiditis), lower respiratory (e.g.empyema, lung abscess),cardiac (e.g. infective endocarditis),gastrointestinal (e.g. secretory diarrhoea, splenic abscess,retroperitoneal abscess), CNS (e.g. cerebral abscess), eye (e.g.blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, endophthalmitis, preseptal &orbital cellulitis, darcryocystitis), kidney and urinar tract (e.g.epididymitis, intrarenal and perinephric abscess, toxic shock syndrome),skin (e.g. impetigo, folliculitis, cutaneous abscesses, cellulitis,wound infection, bacterial myositis) bone and joint (e.g. septicarthritis, osteomyelitis)., comprising determining from a sample derivedfrom an individual a increased level of expression of polynucleotidehaving the sequence of FIG. 1 [SEQ ID NO:1]. Increased expression ofRsbV-1 polynucleotide can be measured using any on of the methods wellknown in the art for the quantation of polynucleotides, such as, forexample, PCR, RT-PCR, RNase protection, Northern blotting and otherhybridization methods.

Polypeptide Assays

The present invention also relates to a diagnostic assays such asquantitative and diagnostic assays for detecting levels of RsbV-1protein in cells and tissues, including determination of normal andabnormal levels. Thus, for instance, a diagnostic assay in accordancewith the invention for detecting over-expression of RsbV-1 proteincompared to normal control tissue samples may be used to detect thepresence of an infection, for example. Assay techniques that can be usedto determine levels of a RsbV-1 protein, in a sample derived from a hostare well-known to those of skill in the art. Such assay methods includeradioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays, Western Blot analysis andELISA assays. Among these ELISAs frequently are preferred. An ELISAassay initially comprises preparing an antibody specific to RsbV-1,preferably a monoclonal antibody. In addition a reporter antibodygenerally is prepared which binds to the monoclonal antibody. Thereporter antibody is attached a detectable reagent such as radioactive,fluorescent or enzymatic reagent, in this example horseradish peroxidaseenzyme.

Antibodies

The polypeptides, their fragments or other derivatives, or analogsthereof, or cells expressing them can be used as an immunogen to produceantibodies thereto. The present invention includes, for examplesmonoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, chimeric, single chain, andhumanized antibodies, as well as Fab fragments, or the product of an Fabexpression library.

Antibodies generated against the polypeptides corresponding to asequence of the present invention can be obtained by direct injection ofthe polypeptides into an animal or by administering the polypeptides toan animal, preferably a nonhuman. The antibody so obtained will thenbind the polypeptides itself. In this manner, even a sequence encodingonly a fragment of the polypeptides can be used to generate antibodiesbinding the whole native polypeptides. Such antibodies can then be usedto isolate the polypeptide from tissue expressing that polypeptide.

For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique known in the artwhich provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures canbe used. Examples include various techniques, suchas those in Kohler, G.and Milstein, C., Nature 256: 495-497 (1975); Kozbor et al., ImmunologyToday 4: 72 (1983); Cole et al., pg. 77-96 in MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES ANDCANCER THERAPY, Alan R. Liss, Inc. (1985).

Techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S.Pat. No. 4,946,778) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies toimmunogenic polypeptide products of this invention. Also, transgenicmice, or other organisms such as other mammals, may be used to expresshumanized antibodies to immunogenic polypeptide products of thisinvention.

Alternatively phage display technology could be utilized to selectantibody genes with binding activities towards the polypeptide eitherfrom repertoires of PCR amplified v-genes of lymphocytes from humansscreened for possessing anti-Fbp or from naive libraries (McCafferty, J.et al., (1990), Nature 348, 552-554; Marks, J. et al., (1992)Biotechnology 10, 779-783). The affinity of these antibodies can also beimproved by chain shuffling (Clackson, T. et al., (1991) Nature 352,624-628).

If two antigen binding domains are present each domain may be directedagainst a different epitope—termed ‘bispecific’ antibodies.

The above-described antibodies may be employed to isolate or to identifyclones expressing the polypeptide or purify the polypeptide of thepresent invention by attachment of the antibody to a solid support forisolation and/or purification by affinity chromatography.

Thus, among others, antibodies against RsbV-1 may be employed to inhibitand/or treat infections, particularly bacterial infections andespecially upper respiratory tract (e.g. otitis media, bacterialtracheitis, acute epiglottitis, thyroiditis), lower respiratory (e.g.empyema, lung abscess),cardiac (e.g. infective endocarditis),gastrointestinal (e.g. secretory diarrhoea, splenic abscess,retroperitoneal abscess), CNS (e.g. cerebral abscess), eye (e.g.blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, endophthalmitis, preseptal &orbital cellulitis, darcryocystitis), kidney and urinary tract (e.g.epididymitis, intraenal and perinephric abscess, toxic shock syndrome),skin (e.g. impetigo, folliculitis , cutaneous abscesses, cellulitis,wound infection, bacterial myositis) bone and joint (e.g. septicarthritis, osteomyelitis).

Polypeptide derivatives include antigenically, epitopically orimmunologically equivalent derivatives which form a particular aspect ofthis invention. The term “antigenically equivalent derivative” as usedherein encompasses a polypeptide or its equivalent which will bespecifically recognised by certain antibodies which, when raised to theprotein or polypeptide according to the present invention, interferewith the immediate physical interaction between pathogen and mammalianhost, directly or indirectly. The term “immunologically equivalentderivative” as used herein encompasses a peptide or its equivalent whichwhen used in a suitable formulation to raise antibodies in a vertebrate,the antibodies act to interfere with the immediate physical interactionbetween pathogen and mammalian host, directly or indirectly.

The polypeptide, such as an antigenically or immunologically equivalentderivative or a fusion protein thereof is used as an antigen to immunizea mouse or other animal such as a rat or chicken. The fusion protein mayprovide stability to the polypeptide. The antigen may be associated, forexample by conjugation, with an immunogenic carrier protein for examplebovine serum albumin (BSA) or keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH).Alternatively a multiple antigenic peptide comprising multiple copies ofthe the protein or polypeptide, or an antigenically or immunologicallyequivalent polypeptide thereof may be sufficiently antigenic to improveimmunogenicity so as to obviate the use of a carrier.

Preferably the antibody or derivative thereof is modified to make itless immunogenic in the individual. For example, if the individual ishuman the antibody may most preferably be “humanized”; where thecomplimentarily determining region(s) of the hybridoma-derived antibodyhas been transplanted into a human monoclonal antibody, for example asdescribed in Jones, P. et al. (1986), Nature 321, 522-525 or Tempest etal.,(1991) Biotechnology 9, 266-273.

The use of a polynucleotide of the invention in genetic immunizationwill preferably employ a suitable delivery method such as directinjection of plasmid DNA into muscles (Wolff et al., Hum Mol Genet 1992,1:363, Manthorpe et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 1963:4, 419), delivery of DNAcomplexed with specific protein carriers (Wu et al., J Biol Chem1989:264, 16985), coprecipitation of DNA with calcium phosphate(Benvenisty & Reshef, PNAS, 1986:83, 9551), encapsulation of DNA invarious forms of liposomes (Kaneda et al., Science 1989:243, 375),particle bombardment (Tang et al., Nature 1992, 356:152, Eisenbraun etal., DNA Cell Biol 1993, 12:791) and in vivo infection using clonedretroviral vectors (Seeger et al., PNAS 1984:81,5849).

RsbV-1-binding Molecules and Assays

This invention also provides a method for identification of molecules,such as binding molecules, that bind RsbV-1. Genes encoding proteinsthat bind RsbV-1, can be identified by numerous methods known to thoseof skill in the art, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting. Suchmethods are described in many laboratory manuals such as, for instance,Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2): Chapter 5 (1991).Also, a labeled ligand can be photoaffinity linked to a cell extract.Polypeptides of the invention also can be used to assess RsbV-1 bindingcapacity of RsbV-1-binding molecules, in cells or in cell-freepreparations.

Polypeptides of the invention may also be used to assess the binding orsmall molecule substrates and ligands in, for example, cells, cell-freepreparations, chemical libraries, and natural product mixtures. Thesesubstrates and ligands may be natural substrates and ligands or may bestrucural or functional mimetics.

Antagonists and Agonists—Assays and Molecules

The invention also provides a method of screening compounds to identifythose which enhance (agonist) or block (antagonist) the action of RsbV-1polypeptides or polynucleotides, such as its interaction withRsbV-1-binding molecules.

For example, to screen for agonists or antagoists, a synthetic reactionmix, a cellular compartment, such as a membrane, cell envelope or cellwall, or a preparation of any thereof, may be prepared from a cell thatexpresses a molecule that binds RsbV-1. The preparation is incubatedwith labeled RsbV-1 in the absence or the presence of a candidatemolecule which may be a RsbV-1 agonist or antagonist. The ability of thecandidate molecule to bind the binding molecule is reflected indecreased binding of the labeled ligand. Molecules which bindgratuitously, i.e., without inducing the effects of RsbV-1 on bindingthe RsbV-1 binding molecule, are most likely to be good antagonists.Molecules that bind well and elicit effects that are the same as orclosely related to RsbV-1 are agonists.

RsbV-1-like effects of potential agonists and antagonists may bymeasured, for instance, by determining activity of a reporter systemfollowing interaction of the candidate molecule with a cell orappropriate cell preparation, and comparing the effect with that ofRsbV-1 or molecules that elicit the same effects as RsbV-1. Reportersystems that may be useful in this regard include but are not limited tocolorimetric labeled substrate converted into product, a reporter genethat is responsive to changes in RsbV-1 activity, and binding assaysknown in the art.

Another example of an assay for RsbV-1 antagonists is a competitiveassay that combines RsbV-1 and a potential antagonist withmembrane-bound RsbV-1-binding molecules, recombinant RsbV-1 bindingmolecules, natural substrates or ligands, or substrate or ligandmimetics, under appropriate conditions for a competitive inhibitionassay. RsbV-1 can be labeled, such as by radioactivity or a colorimetriccompound, such that the number of RsbV-1 molecules bound to a bindingmolecule or converted to product can be determined accurately to assessthe effectiveness of the potential antagonist.

Potential antagonists include smiall organic molecules, peptides,polypeptides and antibodies that bind to a polypeptide of the inventionand thereby inhibit or extinguish its activity. Potential antagonistsalso may be small organic molecules, a peptide, a polypeptide such as aclosely related protein or antibody that binds the samne sites on abinding molecule, such as a binding molecule, without inducingRsbV-1-induced activities, thereby preventing the action of RsbV-1 byexcluding RsbV-1 from binding.

Potential antagonists include a small molecule which binds to andoccupies the binding site of the polypeptide thereby preventing bindingto cellular binding molecules, such that normal biological activity isprevented. Examples of small molecules include but are not limited tosmall organic molecules, peptides or peptide-like molecules.

Other potential antagonists include antisense molecules (see Okano, J.Neurochem. 56. 560 (1991); OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDES AS ANTISENSE INHBITORSOF GENE EXPRESSION, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988), for adescription of these molecules).

Preferred potential antagonists include compounds related to andderivatives of RsbV-1.

In a particular aspect the invention provides the use of thepolypeptide, polynucleotide or inhibitor of the invention to interfere,directly or indirectly, with the initial physical interaction between apathogen and mammtalian host responsible for sequelae of infection. Inparticular the molecules of the invention may be used: i) in theprevention of adhesion of bacteria, in particular gram positivebacteria, to mammalian extracellular matrix proteins on in-dwellingdevices or to extracellular matrix proteins in wounds; ii) to blocksigma factor protein mediated mammalian cell invasion by, for example,initiating phosphorylation of mammnalian tyrosine kinases (Rosenshine etal., Infect. Immun. 60:2211 (1992); iii) to block bacterial adhesionbetween mammalian extracellular matrix proteins and bacterial sigmafactor proteins which mediate tissue damage; iv) to block the normalprogression of pathogenesis in infections initiated other than by theimplantation of in-dwelling devices or by other surgical techniques.

Each of the DNA sequences provided herein may be used in the discoveryand development of antibacterial compounds. The encoded protein uponexpression can be used as a target for the screening of antibacterialdrugs. Additionally, the DNA sequences encoding the amino terminalregions of the encoded protein or Shine-Delgarno or other translationfacilitating sequences of the respective mRNA can be used to constructantisense sequences to control the expression of the coding sequence ofinterest.

The antagonists and agonists may be employed for instance to inhibitupper respiratory tract (e.g. otitis media, bacterial tracheitis, acuteepiglottitis, thyroiditis), lower respiratory (e.g. empyema, lungabscess), cardiac (e.g. infective endocarditis), gastrointestinal (e.g.secretory diarrhoea, splenic abscess, retroperitoneal abscess), CNS(e.g. cerebral abscess), eye (e.g. blepharitis, conjunctivitis,keratitis, endophthalmitis, preseptal & orbital cellulitis,darcryocystitis), kidney and urinary tract (e.g. epididymitis,intrarenal and perinephric abscess, toxic shock syndrome), skin (e.g.impetigo, folliculitis, cutaneous abscesses, cellulitis, woundinfection, bacterial myositis) bone and joint (e.g. septic arthritis,osteomyelitis).

Vaccines

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for inducing animmunological response in an individual, particularly a mammal whichcomprises inoculating the individual with RsbV-1, or a fragment orvariant thereof, adequate to produce antibody to protect said individualfrom infection, particularly bacterial infection and most particularlyStaphylococcus infections. Yet another aspect of the invention relatesto a method of inducing immunological response in an individual whichcomprises, through gene therapy, delivering gene encoding RsbV-1, or afragment or a variant thereof, for expressing RsbV-1, or a fragment or avariant thereof in vivo in order to induce an immunological response toproduce antibody to protect said individual from disease.

A further aspect of the invention relates to an immunologicalcomposition which, when introduced into a host capable or having iducedwithin it an immunological response, induces an immunological responsein such host to a RsbV-1 or protein coded therefrom, wherein thecomposition comprises a recombinant RsbV-1 or protein coded therefromcomprising DNA which codes for and expresses an antigen of said RsbV-1or protein coded therefrom.

The RsbV-1 or a fragment thereof may be fused with co-protein which maynot by itself produce antibodies, but is capable of stabilizing thefirst protein and producing a fused protein which will have immunogenicand protective properties. Thus fused recombinant protein, preferablyfurther comprises an antigenic co-protein, such asGlutathione-S-transferase (GST) or beta-galactosidase, relatively largeco-proteins which solubilise the protein and facilitate production andpurification thereof. Moreover, the co-protein may act as an adjuvant inthe sense of providing a generalized stimulation of the immune system.The co-protein may be attached to either the amino or carboxy terminusof the first protein.

Provided by this invention are methods using the describedpolynucleotide or particular fragments thereof which have been shown toencode non-variable regions of bacterial cell surface proteins in DNAconstructs used in such genetic immunization experiments in animalmodels of infection with Staphylococcus aureus will be particularlyuseful for identifying protein epitopes able to provoke a prophylacticor therapeutic immune response. It is believed that this approach willallow for the subsequent preparation of monoclonal antibodies ofparticular value from the requisite organ of the animal successfullyresisting or clearing infection for the development of prophylacticagents or therapeutic treatments of Staphylococcus aureus infection inmammals, particularly humans.

The polypeptide may be used as an antigen for vaccination of a host toproduce specific antibodies which protect against invasion of bacteria,for example by blocking adherence of bacteria to damaged tissue.Examples of tissue damage include wounds in skin or connective tissuecaused e.g. by mechanical, chemical or thermal damage or by implantationof indwelling devices, or wounds in the mucous membranes, such as themouth, mammary glands, urethra or vagina.

The present invention also includes a vaccine formulation whichcomprises the immunogenic recombinant protein together with a suitablecarrier. Since the protein may be broken down in the stomach, it ispreferably administered parenterally, including, for example,administration that is subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, orintradermal. Formulations suitable for parenteral administration includeaqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may containanti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render theformulation instonic with the bodily fluid, preferably the blood, of theindividual; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which mayinclude suspending agents or thickening agents. The formulations may bepresented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example, sealedampoules and vials and may be stored in a freeze-dried conditionrequiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier immediatelyprior to use. The vaccine formulation may also include adjuvant systemsfor enhancing the immunogenicity of the formulation, such as oil-inwater systems and other systems known in the art. The dosage will dependon the specific activity of the vaccine and can be readily determined byroutine experimentation.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain RsbV-1,it is to be understood that this covers fragments of the naturallyoccurring protein and similar proteins with additions, deletions orsubstitutions which do not substantially affect the immunogenicproperties of the recombinant protein.

Compositions

The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polynucleotideor the polypeptides discussed above or the agonists or antagonists.Thus, the polypeptides of the present invention may be employed incombination with a non-sterile or sterile carrier or carriers for usewith cells, tissues or organisms, such as a pharmaceutical carriersuitable for administration to a subject. Such compositions comprise,for instance, a media additive or a therapeutically effective amount ofa polypeptide of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrieror excipient. Such carriers may include, but are not limited to, saline,buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol and combinationsthereof The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

Kits

The invention further relates to diagnostic and pharmaceutical packs andkits comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of theingredients of the aforementioned compositions of the invention.Associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribedby a goverumental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale ofpharmaceuticals or biological products, reflecting approval by theagency of the manufacture, use or sale of the product for humanadministration.

Administration

Polypeptides and other compounds of the present invention may beemployed alone or in conjunction with other compounds, such astherapeutic compounds.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered in any effective,convenent manner including, for instance, administration by topical,oral, anal, vaginal, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular,subcutaneous, intranasal or intradermal routes among others.

The pharmaceutical compositions generally are administered in an amounteffective for treatment or prophylaxis of a specific indication orindications. In general, the compositions are administered in an amountof at least about 10 μg/kg body weight. In most cases they will beadministered in an amount not in excess of about 8 mg/kg body weight perday. Preferably, in most cases, dose is from about 10 μg/kg to about 1mg/kg body weight, daily. It will be appreciated that optimum dosagewill be determined by standard methods for each treatment modality andindication, taking into account the indication, its severity, route ofadministration, complicating conditions and the like.

In therapy or as a prophylactic, the active agent may be administered toan individual as an injectable composition, for example as a sterileaqueous dispersion, preferably isotonic.

Alternatively the composition may be formulated for topical applicationfor example in the form of ointments, creams, lotions, eye ointments,eye drops, ear drops, mouthwash, impregnated dressings and sutures andaerosols, and may contain appropriate conventional additives, including,for example, preservatives, solvents to assist drug penetration, andemollients in ointments and creams. Such topical formulations may alsocontain compatible conventional carriers, for example cream or ointmentbases, and ethanol or oleyl alcohol for lotions. Such carriers mayconstitute from about 1% to about 98% by weight of the formulation; moreusually they will constitute up to about 80% by weight of theformulation.

For administration to mammals, and particularly humans, it is expectedthat the daily dosage level of the active agent will be from 0.01 mg/kgto 10 mg/kg, typically around 1 mg/kg. The physician in any event willdetermine the actual dosage which will be most suitable for anindividual and will vary with the age, weight and response of theparticular individual. The above dosages are exemplary of the averagecase. There can, of course, be individual instances where higher orlower dosage ranges are merited, and such are within the scope of thisinvention.

In-dwelling devices include surgical implants, prosthetic devices andcatheters, i.e., devices that are introduced to the body of anindividual and remain in position for an extended time. Such devicesinclude, for example, artificial joints, heart valves, pacemakers,vascular grafts, vascular catheters, cerebrospinal fluid shunts, urinarycatheters, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) catheters,etc.

The composition of the invention may be administered by injection toachieve a systemic effect against relevant bacteria shortly beforeinsertion of an in-dwelling device. Treatment may be continued aftersurgery during the in-body time of the device. In addition, thecomposition could also be used to broaden perioperative cover for anysurgical technique to prevent Staphylococcus wound infections.

Many orthopaedic surgeons consider that humans with prosthetic jointsshould be considered for antibiotic prophylaxis before dental treatmentthat could produce a bacteraemia. Late deep infection is a seriouscomplication sometimes leading to loss of the prosthetic joint and isaccompanied by significant morbidity and mortality. It may therefore bepossible to extend the use of the active agent as a replacement forprophylactic antibiotics in this situation.

In addition to the therapy described above, the compositions of thisinvention may be used generally as a wound treatment agent to preventadhesion of bacteria to matrix proteins exposed in wound tissue and forprophylactic use in dental treatment as an alternative to, or inconjunction with, antibiotic prophylaxis.

Alternatively, the composition of the invention may be used to bathe anindwelling device immediately before insertion. The active agent willpreferably be present at a concentration of 1 μg/ml to 10 mg/ml forbathing of wounds or indwelling devices.

A vaccine composition is conveniently in injectable form. Conventionaladjuvants may be employed to enhance the immune response.

A suitable unit dose for vaccination is 0.5-5 μg/kg of antigen, and suchdose is preferably administered 1-3 times and with an interval of 1-3weeks.

With the indicated dose range, no adverse toxicological effects will beobserved with the compounds of the invention which would preclude theiradministration to suitable individuals.

The antibodies described above may also be used as diagnostic reagentsto detect the presence of bacteria containing the sigma factor protein.

In order to facilitate understanding of the following example certainfrequently occurring methods and/or terms will be described.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is further described by the following examples.These exemplification's, while illustrating certain specific aspects ofthe invention, do not portray the limitations or circumscribe the scopeof the disclosed invention.

Certain terms used herein are explained in the foregoing glossary.

All examples were carried out using standard techniques, which are wellknown and routine to those of skill in the art, except where otherwisedescribed in detail. Routine molecular biology techniques of thefollowing examples can be carried out as described in standardlaboratory manuals, such as Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: ALABORATORY MAMNUAL, 2nd Ed.; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, ColdSpring Harbor, N.Y. (1989).

Example 1 Library Production

The polynucleotide having the DNA sequence given in SEQ ID NO:1 wasobtained from a library of clones of chromosomal DNA of Staphylococcusaureus in E. coli. In some cases the sequencing data from two or moreclones containing overlapping Staphylococcus aureus DNAs was used toconstruct the contiguous DNA sequence in SEQ ID NO:1. Libraries may beprepared by routine methods, for example:

Methods 1 and 2 below.

Total cellular DNA is isolated from Staphylococcus aureus WCUH 29according to standard procedures and size-fractionated by either of twomethods.

Method 1

Total cellular DNA is mechanically sheared by passage through a needlein order to size-fractionate according to standard procedures. DNAfragments of up to 11 kbp in size are rendered blunt by treatment withexonuclease and DNA polymerase, and EcoRI linkers added. Fragments areligated into the vector Lambda ZapII that has been cut with EcoRI thelibrary packaged by standard procedures and E. coli infected with thepackaged library. The library is amplified by standard procedures.

Method 2

Total cellular DNA is partially hydrolsed with a one or a combination ofrestriction enzymes appropriate to generate a series of fragments forcloning into library vectors (e.g., RsaI, PalI, AluI, Bshl235I), andsuch fragments are size-fractionated according to standard procedures.EcoRI linkers are ligated to the DNA and the fragments then ligated intothe vector Lambda ZapII that have been cut with EcoRI, the librarypackaged by standard procedures, and E. coli infected with the packagedlibrary. The library is amplified by standard procedures.

2 1 327 DNA Bacillus subtilis 1 atgaatctta atatagaaac aaccactcaagataaatttt acgaagttaa agtcggtgga 60 gaattagatg tttatactgt gcctgaattagaagaggttt taacacctat gagacaagat 120 ggaactcgtg atatttatgt taatttagaaaatgtgagtt atatggattc gacaggttta 180 ggtttattcg taggtacatt aaaagcattaaaccaaaatg ataaagaact atacatttta 240 ggtgtgtcag atcgtatcgg tagactatttgaaattactg gtcttaagga tttaatgcat 300 gttaatgaag gaacggaggt cgaataa 327 2108 PRT Bacillus subtilis 2 Met Asn Leu Asn Ile Glu Thr Thr Thr Gln AspLys Phe Tyr Glu Val 1 5 10 15 Lys Val Gly Gly Glu Leu Asp Val Tyr ThrVal Pro Glu Leu Glu Glu 20 25 30 Val Leu Thr Pro Met Arg Gln Asp Gly ThrArg Asp Ile Tyr Val Asn 35 40 45 Leu Glu Asn Val Ser Tyr Met Asp Ser ThrGly Leu Gly Leu Phe Val 50 55 60 Gly Thr Leu Lys Ala Leu Asn Gln Asn AspLys Glu Leu Tyr Ile Leu 65 70 75 80 Gly Val Ser Asp Arg Ile Gly Arg LeuPhe Glu Ile Thr Gly Leu Lys 85 90 95 Asp Leu Met His Val Asn Glu Gly ThrGlu Val Glu 100 105

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:2.2. A composition comprising the isolated polypeptide of claim 1 and acarrier.
 3. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 comprising aheterologous amino acid sequence fused to SEQ ID NO:2.
 4. A compositioncomprising the isolated polypeptide of claim 3 and a carrier.
 5. Theisolated polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the isolated polypeptideconsists of SEQ ID NO:2.
 6. A composition comprising the isolatedpolypeptide of claim 5 and a carrier.
 7. An isolated polypeptidefragment comprising at least 50 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.8. A composition comprising the isolated polypeptide fragment of claim 7and a carrier.
 9. The isolated polypeptide fragment of claim 7comprising a heterologous amino acid sequence fused to the at least 50consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.
 10. A composition comprising theisolated polypeptide fragment of claim 9 and a carrier.
 11. An isolatedpolypeptide fragment comprising at least 30 consecutive amino acids ofSEQ ID NO:2.
 12. A composition comprising the isolated polypeptidefragment of claim 11 and a carrier.
 13. The isolated polypeptidefragment of claim 11 comprising a heterologous amino acid sequence fusedto the at least 30 consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.
 14. Acomposition comprising the isolated polypeptide fragment of claim 13 anda carrier.